Engine starter control apparatus



D 1953 P. L. SCHNEIDER ETAL ,7

, ENGINE TARTER CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Nov. 50, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1 /NVENTO2 s 4&0 ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1,953

P. L. SCHNEIDER ET AL 2,661,730 ENGINE STARTER CONTROL APPARATUS INVEN 7-0/2 3 flay/{MW w ATToe/vE Y5 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 50, 1950 Dec. 8, 1953 P. SCHNEIDER ETAL ENGINE STARTER CONTROL APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 30. 1950 //v VEN 7'02 5 r% ATTOQNEKS Dec. 8, 1953 P. SCHNEIDER ETAL ENGINE STARTER CONTROL APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 30, 1950 & N \Q Q 8 K w 1% 2 1 %w \k w\ I Q WTQ QQ \l xx w Patented Dec. 8, 1953 ENGINE STARTER CONTROL APPARATUS Paul L. Schneider, Harold J. Cromwell, and William H. Taylor, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application November 30, 1950, Serial No. 198,358

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the control of the engine starting motor of an engine of an automotive vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide starting motor control apparatus which eliminates use of a manually operated switch on the instrument panel. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention this object is accomplished by apparatus under control of the transmission selector lever which controls an automatic transmission of the type which is conditioned by movement of the lever into various positions, namely, Park, New tral, Drive, Low and Reverse. When the selector lever is rotated into either the Park or the New tral position, lifting the lever upwardly or toward the steering wheel causes closure of a switch which completes a circuit by virtue of which the starting motor is caused to operate. The apparatus provides means responsive to self-operation of the engine for preventing closure of this switch by the selector lever when the engine is running.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a transmission selector lever and mechanism for transmitting movement therefrom to an automatic transmission.

Figs. 2 and 3 are views in the direction of arrows 2 and 3 respectively of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged scale view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1..

Fig. 5 is a view in the direction of arrow 5 01" Fig. 4 of certain parts shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged scale sectional view on line s -s ofFig. 2.

Figs. '7 and 8 are sectional views respectively on lines 'l-l and 8- -8 of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a view in the direction of arrow 10 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a view in the direction of arrow II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is in part a wiring diagram and in part a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus switch.

Fig. 13is an enlargement of a portion of the switch shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a view on line l li4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a view of certain parts of the switch of Fig. 13 as viewed in the direction of arrow E5 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing certain switch parts in other positions.

Referring to Fig. 12 in which the engine starter is shown diagrammatically, the starting motor H! has one terminal grounded at H and the other connected to a switch contact 39. The motor armature shaft I2 is splinedly connected with a sleeve l3 connected through a one-way or overrunning clutch [4 with a pinion [5; adapted to mesh with the flywheel gear it of the engine. A grooved collar I l which is slidable on sleeve I3 is urged by a spring 18 against a split wire snap ring It received by a groove in sleeve l3. Pins 20 received by the groove of collar I"! are attached to a lever 2| which is bifurcated and which is pivoted at 22. A spring 23 urges lever 2| clockwise and sleeve [3 against a stop 24.

The upper end of lever 2| carries a pin 25 received by a slot 26 in a member 21 attached to a solenoid armature 28 engageable with a rod 29a connected with a movable switch contact 29 for connecting contacts 30 and 3|. A spring we urges contact 29 away from contacts 30 and SI and into engagement with a rod bearing 2% which provides a magnetizable pole piece toward which the armature 28 is attracted when solenoid windings 32 and 33 are energized by closing a motor control switch 35 which connects these windings with a battery 36.

The switch 35 comprises a case 3! which a yoke 38 attaches to a mounting plate'39 having a threaded portion 40 which extends through a hole in a bracket 4! and receives a nut 42, the tightening of which secures the plate 39 to the bracket 4 I. Case 31 is closed by a nonconducting cover 43 supporting contacts 44 and 45 engageable by a sliding contact 46 mechanically connected to a nonconducting carrier 41 enclosing a spring is which urges the contact 46 toward the coverf43. Carrier 41 is mechanically connected to a carrier slide 50 connected to a rod 51 extending through the plate 39 and attached to a push button 52. A spring 53 urges the rod 5| toward the left and slide 50 against the left wall of case 31.

Case 37 supports a shell having its flange 6| crimped around the flange 62 of a shell 53. Shell to has ears Eta (Fig. 14) punched out and bent down and attached by welding to case 31. The peripheral portion of a diaphragm 64 is pinched between shells 50 and 63 and its central portion is connected by a rivet 65 with a plate 66 integral with two spring fingers 6'! (Figs. 13-16) and with a cupped washer 68 which receives one end of a spring 69 which surrounds a tube 10 attached to a flange 73 (Fig. 13) of the shell 63. The spring I59 urges the diaphragm 64 up until the rivet 65 touches the case 31. The fingers 61 are then disposed as shown in Fig. 13 to receive between them a part TI of the carrier slide 50. Downward movement of the diaphragm E4 is stopped by engagement of washer 68 with the tube I which is notched at I2 so that suction on the diaphragm 64 continues after said engagement. Tube i0 is connected with the engine intake so that the diaphragm 64 is under control by engine suction.

To start the engine, the-button 52 (Fig. 12) ispushed right by means to be described to cause the contact 46 to connect contacts 44' and 45 and current flows from the battery 36 through solenoid coils 32 and 33. Armature 28 moves left-to cause lever 2| to move counterclockwise to move the collar [1 right and, through the spring IE. to move the sleeve l3, clutch I4 and pinion I5. If no tooth abutment occurs, pinion Ifi-meshes-with gear I5 and then the contact 29'engages-contacts 30: and 3| and the battery 56 is directly connected with. the motor I0 and the engine gear I6 istrotated. Though coil 33 is shorted, coil 32 remains effective to hold the armature 28 infully attracted position. If tooth abutment occurs, left movement of armature 28/ continues to close the contacts 29, 30 and. 3| While spring I8 is compressed. The motor It operates to turnthe pinion. I5 to relieve the abutment, whereupon spring I8 is released to move the pinion I5 quickly into mesh with-the gear.

When the engine starts, pinion I5 overruns the motor shaft by virtue of the one-way clutch I4. The button 52 is released to permit spring 53 to open the contacts-44, 15 and 45-. Coil 32 is deenergized and the armature28 moves right and the pinion I5 moves left under the action of spring 23. Spring 28c separates contact 29 from contacts 30 and 3-I. In case of aback fire and the pinion I5 remains in mesh with gear IS, the button 52 is released to permitspring 290 to separate contact 29 from contacts 3!] and 31; said movement being possible by virtue of the pinand-slot lost motion connection between the armature 28-and the lever 2I.

When the engine becomes self operative, en.- gine suction applied to the lower side ofdiaphragm 64 causes it and the fingers 6! to lower so that the upper ends of fingers 61 are inthe path of movement of part H of the carrier slide 50.. If the button 52. had not beenreleasedwhen the engine became self-operative, the part ll of the carrier slide 59 would remain between. the .1

fingers. 61 and downward movement of the diaphragm 64 would cause the fingers 51 to engage part'II and be spread apart to the positions 6'! in Fig. 16. When the button 52 is released spring 53 is still able to move the contact 48 to switch. opening position because the functional resistance between the fingers t1 and the part II is slight. When the part II has been retracted by spring 53, the fingers Bl move into position 61' (Fig. 16) to block movement of the contact 58 into switch closing position while the engine is running. Therefore, the engine starter cannot be operated while-the engine is running.

The'switch plunger 52 is actuated by a mechanism under control by a selector lever 5! (Fig. l) which controls the status of an automatic transmission contained in housing as through which there extends a control. shaft 8i connected with a lever 32, connected by a link B3 with a lever 84 having a clamping hub 85 which receives a screw (Fig. 4) cooperating with a nut 87 to clamp the lever in the desired position of angular adjustment to a shaft 88 which extends parallel to a fixed tubular mast 89 enclosing a steering shaft (not shown) connected with a steering wheel 90. The upper end of shaft 88 is connected: with the selector: lever 9| which moves a pointer 92*which,.by its. proximity to marks on a transparent dial plate 93, indicates the status of the transmission in case 80. Plate 93 carries the marks P, N, D. L, R, indicating, respectively, Park, Neutral, Drive, Low, Reverse. Dial 93 is secured by a dial cover 93a to a bracket 94 attached to thecolumn 89.

As shown in Fig; 6, bracket 94 threadedly receives a sleeve 95 providing a bearing for the shaft BB Which has an integral arm 96 received by the lever 9!. Arm 96 provides a spherical end 91' through which the lever BI is mechanically connected with the shaft 88 for rotation thereof. Before; the lever 9.2 can be turned into certain positions it is necessary to move the shaft 88 axially upwardly. This axial movement. of. shaft 88 is effected by lifting the lever 9.I toward. the steering wheel as viewed in. Fig. 2. against, the action of spring H6 (Fig. 1) which opposes upward axial movement of the shaft. An antirattle spring 98 provides a yoke 99a. engaging the arm: 98 and ends 931). passing. through holes. in cars I of a member Illl received by sleeve and extending into pins Hi2 supported by sleeve 95 and providing pivots. for. lever SI. Spring 98 is biased to push the pins I112 downwardly and apart. Lever 9i carries. ananti-rattle plunger 03 (Fig. 8) which a spring Into urges against the inside wall of lever 9 I.

Counter-clockwise movement of lever 91 about pins i132 (Figs. 6 and. 7-) causes upward axial movement of shaft 83. As shaft. 88 is rotated by lever BI, rotary motion. is transmitted by lever BI to sleeve. $35 and to asleeve. I95 which carries pointer 92 (Fig. 1) said. sleeve I05. having lugs I05 received by notches. It! in sleeve 95.

The lower end of shaft, 88' is journaled. in a bearing III (Fig- 10) carried by a bracket H2 which cooperates with a clamp H3 (Fig. 4') through the use of screws I'IG' and nuts H5. to secure the bracket I I2. in the. desired position. on the'mast 85. Between bracket H2 and hub85; of lever 84 there is located a compression spring IIB which urges shaft 83 downwardly or to the left in Fig. 10 so that the surface II! of lug lIEL of lever 8 is urgedv against the bracket H2. The portion of bracket H2. which is engaged by the surface I I! of lug H8 when the lever 9! occupies the various positions indicated in Fig. 2, includes portions a, b, c and (1 (Fig.9). When lever 9| is in Park position, lug H8 is in position P against portion a. When lever B! is in Neutral Drive and Low. positions, lug H8 engages portion 0 at. positions N, D and L respectively. When lever 9,! is in Reverse position, lug H8. engages portion (1 as shown in Fig. 9. In order to move the. lever 9I from Neutral to Park, it is necessary to lift it to move shaft 88 axially upwardly in order that the lug I It can clear the portion 1) before lug IIB can. be moved adjacent portion a. Before the lever BI is moved from Low to Reverse, it is necessary to lift said lever in order that the lug Il8 will be retracted from the portion 0 to the plane of the portion d; Stops IIZa and i I217 of bracket H2 are in the path of movement of lever 84 in order to limit rotation thereof. In the disclosed embodiment of. the present invention, advantage is taken of this transmission control to effect movement of switch contact 46 (Fig. 12) to circuit closing position by lifting lever 9| when in Neutral or Park, provided the engine is not running.

In order to use said movement of lever 91, the present starting motor control apparatus includes the bracket ll (Fig. 12), attached by screws M s (Figs. 10 and 11) to bracket I I2, which locates the switch plunger 52 for engagement by a disc I20 in certain positions thereof. Disc I20 is supported by a rod I2I Which extends through ears I22 of a bracket I23 which screws I24 attach to lever 84. Rod IZI is surrounded by a spring I25 which urges the disc I20 toward the right (Fig. 10), movement of the disc being stopped by engagement of a washer I26 with a bracket ear I22, said washer being retained by a nut I2! threaded on rod I2I and secured in the desired position of adjustment by a lock nut I2Ia. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, lever 84 is in Park position and disc I20 is normally in the position shown in full lines. When the lever BI is in Neutral, lever 84 will be in a position represented by dot-dash circle MN (Fig. 11) and disc I20 will be in the position indicated by the dot-dash circle I20 corresponding to the position of disc I20 shown at I20 in Fig. 10. When lever BI is in Neutral position and is'not lifted, lever 84 engages surface 0 (Fig. 9). Before rotating lever 9| from Neutral to Park, it is necessary to lift it in order that lever 84 will clear surface b so that lever 84 can be moved into position for contact with surface 0 which lever 84 engages by virtue of the action of spring (Fig. 10) when lever 9| is released. Similarly, before lever 9| can be rotated from Park to Neutral, it is necessary to lift it in order that lever 84 will clear surface b (Fig. 9). The extent to which lever BI is lifted, in any event, in order that lever 84 will clear surface b is sufficient to cause disc I to move to position I20" (Fig. 10) if it had been in position I20 and just as far to the right as position I20" if it had been in position I20. Therefore the lifting of lever SI in order to permit movement from Neutral to Park or vice versa causes disc I20, if either in Park or in Neutral position, to move the switch button 52 to 52 to effect closure of the switch 35; and the engine starter operates if the engine is not running.

If, while the engine is running, lever 9| is moved into Neutral position and then lifted, switch 35 is not closed-since its closing movement is blocked; but lever 84 will move right in Fig. 10 while disc I20 is blocked by switch button 52. Therefore bracket I23 moves right relative to disc I 20 and spring I is further compressed. Therefrom Neutral to Park and vice versa while the engine is running can be effected without interference by the blocked switch 35. In the Drive, Low and Reverse positions of lever 9|, there is no contact between disc I28 and switch button 52 even when lever 9| is lifted. The lifting of lever 9I to cause lever 34 to clear surfaces b and d (Fig. 9) is limited in amount by engagement of surface 840. of lever 84 with bracket I12 (Fig. 10). Therefore when lever 9| is lifted while the engine is, not running and it is in either Neutral or Park positions, the switch button 52 is moved sufficiently to close switch 35 but not a distance such as to cause damage to this switch. The limit of travel of button 52 toward switch closing position is slightly to the right of the switch closing position 52 into which the button is moved by lifting lever SI.

Therefore lever BI when lifted, does not force the 6, contact carrier of switch case.

The starting operation obviously requires closure of ignition switch IS (Fig. 12). The closure of switch 35 is resisted by spring 53 which is much weaker than spring I 25 through which lever 84 acts when lever BI is lifted. The starting operation ceases when lever SI is released since spring H6 (Fig. 10) retracts lever 84 to the left and spring 53 opens switch 35.

When lever BI is raised to allow lug II 8 of lever to clear the barrier between surfaces 0 and b (Fig. 9), if lever 9| were moved from Drive to Park, disc I20 'will strike the switch button 52 edgewise. Therefore the edge of disc I2!) is bevelled to provide a camming action which forces button 52 to the right in Fig. 10 as disc I20 approaches position I20".

The present invention is applicable also to the type of engine starter which comprises a starting motor driving a screw shaft on which the starter pinion is threaded, the operation of the motor under control by a push button switch causing the pinion to move axially into mesh with the engine flywheel gear and then to rotate it.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Engine starter control apparatus comprising a rotatable and axially movable shaft, manually operable means for rotating the shaft into a plurality of positions and for moving the shaft 35 against the switch axially, stop means for blocking rotary movement of the shaft from one of its positions to an adjacent position and vice versa and avoided by axial movement of the shaft, a switch for controlling engine starting apparatus, and having an operating member which moves parallel to the axis of the shaft, and a plate carried by the shaft and presenting a surface for engagement with the switch operating member Whenever the shaft is in either of its said positionsof rotation, said plate being moved laterally in response to axial movement of the shaft, when in either of its said positions of rotation, to effect movement of the switch operating member to close the switch.

2. Engine starter control apparatus comprising a rotatable and axially movable shaft, manually operable means for rotating the shaft into a plurality of positions and for moving the shaft axially, stop meansfor blocking rotary movement of the shaft from one of its positions to an adjacent position and vice versa and avoided by axial movement of the shaft, a switch for controlling engine starting apparatus, said switch having an operating member and having means rendered effective in response to self-operation of the engine for blocking movement of the switch operating member into switch closing position, a lever attached to theshaft, a plate carried'by the lever into location adjacent to the switch operating member'in'response to rotation "of the shaft into eitherof said two positions, and means including a spring for transmitting from the shaft, when axially moved, a movement of theplate to cause movement of the switch. op-

erating member intoswitch closing position, said spring yielding in the event of axial movement of the shaft when either one of said two positions of rotation while the engine is running.

' 3. Engine starter control apparatus comprising a rotatable and axially movable shaft, manually operable means for rotating the shaft into a plurality of positions and for moving the shaft axially, stop means for blocking rotary movement of the shaft from one of'its positions to an adjacent position and vice versaand avoided by axial movement of the shaft, a switch for controlling engine starting apparatus, said switch having an operating button which moves axially parallel to the shaft and having means rendered effective in response to self-operation of the engine for blocking movement of the button into a switchclosing position, a lever attached to the shaft, a rod supported by the lever in parallel relation to the shaft, a plate attached to the rod and having a surface at right angles to the rod and of such area as to be located adjacent to the button in response to movement of the shaft into one of said two positions of rotation, and a helical coil spring surrounding the rod for transmitting from the shaft, when axially moved, movement to the rod and plate such as to cause the plate to move the button into switch closing position, said spring yielding in the event of axial movement of the shaft when in either one of said two positions of rotation while the engine is running.

4. Engine starter control apparatus comprising: a mounting bracket, a shaft supported thereby for rotary and axial movements, means for rotating the shaft and moving it axially, a spring resisting axial movement of the shaft from normal position, a lever attached to the shaft and having a lug which the spring urges against the bracket, said bracket providing lug blocking means overcome by axial movement of the shaft prerequisite to rotation of the shaft between certain adjacent positions of rotation thereof, an engine starter control switch supported by the bracket and having an operating member movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft and a plate carried by the lever and having a surface of such area that it is presented for engagement with the switch operating member when the shaft is in either of said positions of rotation, said plate being, moved in response tosaid axial movement of the shaft, when in either of said positions of rotation, to effect movement of the switch operating member to close the switch.

5. Engine starter control apparatus comprising a rotatable and axially movable shaft, manually operable means for rotating the shaft into a plurality of positions and for moving it axially, a switch for controlling engine starting apparatus and having an operating member movable in a direction parallel to the shaft, and having means for preventing switch closing movement of the switch operating member while the engine is running, an actuator locatedby rotary movement of the shaft in a certain range of its rotary movement into positions such as to present a surface for engagement with the switch operating member, and a spring for transmitting to the actuator a movement in response to axial movement of the shaft such as to cause the actuator to move the switch operating member into circuit closing position, said spring yielding in the event of said axial movement of the shaft while the engine is running.

6. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having an electric starting motor, a current source adapted to supply current to said motor, a control circuit for controlling the operation of the starting motor and effective when closed to cause the starting motor to be energized, a single control switch in said control circuit and effective whenever closed to close. the control circuit, means for operating said control switch-comprising a rotatably and axially movable shaft, manually operable means for rotating said shaft into a plurality ofdifferent positions to effect a control function independent of engine starting and for moving said shaft axially to effect operation of said control switch, stop means for preventing rotary movement of said rod, said stop means being rendered ineffective by the axial movement of said rod so as to release the rod for rotary movement, and means operable upon axial movement of the rod when the engine is not running for closing said control switch to cause the starting motor to become operative.

'7. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having an electric starting motor, a current source adapted to supply current to said motor, a control circuit for controlling the operation of the starting motor and effective when closed to cause the starting motor to be energized, a single control switch in said control circuit and effective whenever closed to close the control circuit, means for operating said control switch comprising a rotatably and axially movable shaft, manually operable means for rotating said shaft into a plurality of different positions to effect a control function independent of engine starting and for moving said shaft axially to eifect operation of said control switch, stop means for preventing rotary movement of said rod, said stop means being rendered ineffective by the axial movement of said rod so as to release the rod for rotary movement, means operable upon axial movement of the rod when the engine is not running for closing said control switch to cause-the starting motor to become operative, and means operable when the engine is self-operative to prevent closing of said control switch upon axial movement of said rod.

8. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having an electric starting motor, a current source adapted to supply current to said motor, a control circuit for controlling the operation of the starting motor and effective when closed to cause the starting motor to be energized, a single control switch in said control circuit and effective whenever closed to close the control circuit, means for operating said control switch comprising a rotatably and axially movable shaft, manually operable means for rotating said, shaft into a plurality of diiferent positions to effect a control function independent ofengine starting and for moving said shaft axially to effect operation of said control switch, stop means for preventing rotary movement of said rod, said stop means being rendered ineffective by the axial movement of said rod so as to release the rod for rotary movement, and means operable upon axial movement of said rod when the engine is not running and when said rod is in a predetermined rotative position for closing said control switch to cause the starting motor to become operative.

9. In a starting apparatus for internal combustion engines having an electric starting motor, a current source adapted to supply current to said motor, a control circuit for controlling the operation of the starting motor and effective when closed to cause the starting motor to be energized, a single control switch in said control circuit and effective whenever closed to close the control circuit, means for operating said control switch comprising a rotatably and axially movable shaft, manually operable means for rotating said shaft into a plurality of diflerent positions to effect a control function independent of engine starting and for moving said shaft axially to eifect operation of said control switch, stop means for preventing rotary movement of said rod, said stop means being rendered inefiective by the axial movement of said rod so as to release the rod for rotary movement, means operable upon axial movement of the rod when the engine is not running for closing said control switch to cause the starting motor to become operative, and means operable by engine suction when the engine is self-operative to prevent closing of said control switch upon axial movement of said rod.

PAUL L. SCHNEIDER. HAROLD J. CROMWELL. WILLIAM H. TAYLOR.

Number Name Date Butzbach July 20, 1943 Snow Dec. 26, 1944 Osborne Apr. 24, 1945 

